Tatchee is 4.5 years older than his baby brother Hangchee. He was already excited and anticipating when he was born. So far they are getting along well. Tatchee often play a big brother role and helps from time to time.

Just a few things I notice from seeing him interacting with the brother. First, he baby talks to Hang Hang. That means he often switch to a higher pitched voice when talking to him, just like a lot of adults do. I think he is aware of what is a baby and how to interact with them.

Secondly he is able to pick up Hang Hang now. Right after he's born he is already asking to do it. We let him only when he is sitting in a bed or a big couch and then we put the baby into him. After almost a year he is really picking him off the floor. This is probably less to do with his own growth, which is unimpressive last year, than Hangchee is getting tougher and no longer a fragile baby. We still don't have full confidence in him. But now that Hangchee is crawling and going to places he shouldn't it helps to have him patrolling and pull him away sometimes.

Thirdly he is helping to spoon feed Hang Hang. He often do it quite successfully without messing up. When he bring a spoon full of food to his mouth, he will make a munching face himself to entice him to open his mouth to take the food. It is interesting because we are also doing the same thing spontaneously. Is this considered a sign of empathy?

2011.09.25 [family] - comments